Packaging and the environment - the basics

Introduction

The choices that businesses make about the way they design, use and dispose of packaging can impact on their bottom line and the environment.

Although the amount of packaging being recycled is increasing - particularly paper, wood, metals and glass - businesses can do more to use less packaging, lower costs and reduce waste.

You should keep the amount of packaging you use to a minimum, design your packaging so that it is easy to reuse and recycle, and minimise the amount of packaging waste you have to dispose of. This can bring business benefits such as reduced costs across the business, a better relationship with stakeholders and new sales and marketing opportunities.

This guide describes the main packaging legislation that businesses must comply with. It also suggests ways to improve your use of packaging.

Subjects covered in this guide

• Introduction
• Comply with packaging waste obligations
• Comply with packaging design and use requirements
• Comply with requirements on the packaging of chemicals
• Minimise the use of product packaging
• Use products with less packaging
• Reuse, recycle and recover packaging

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